Features
Maximising business opportunities available under the AfCFTA
Five villages, namely, Menpeasem, Abuburo, Bankyeasa, Suronipa, and Nkwaepa previously existed as independent towns not having anything to do with one another during which time they encountered difficulties in their socio-economic development. The difficulties they encountered taught them one lesson, that is, the need to come together and cooperate in a way that will help them to pursue their common agenda of economic development. African countries have been struggling over the years to find a lasting solution to the problem of coming together in a form of unity to promote their continental interest, having failed in a way to successfully set up Organisation of African Unity (OAU) which has now become the African Union (AU). Despite this, not much has been achieved by way of continental economic development for which reason African countries have found the need to set up the largest trading bloc in the world. This bloc, if successful, will be to the benefit of African countries since it will promote huge volumes of trade among the countries on the continent.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
In other words, one great business opportunity provided under the African Continental Free Trade Area is the platform provided for all businessmen and women on the continent to take advantage of the situation and transact business with their counterparts from other parts of the continent. The potential benefits of the bloc have been belaboured time and again and what is left now is to put it into full practice for the entire benefit of Africa. This business opportunity has come at a time when African countries are expected to transact business among their own selves and thereby maximise benefits that can accrue from business transactions with one another. In terms of resources, Africa is a rich continent but in terms of exploitation of these resources for the benefit of its people, the continent is found to be lagging behind the rest of the world. With the formation of the continental free trade, Africa stands a chance of encouraging its business entities to rise to the occasion and maximise benefits from within Africa through intra African trade rather than through business transactions with other parts of the world even though such business transactions are also important.
TRADING WITH OTHER COUNTRIES
Trading with countries outside Africa is good but the point being made is that the continent of Africa provides a huge opportunity for countries on the continent to align themselves with one another and promote trade among themselves. If this is done economic growth will take place within the continent and thereby help in the promotion of economic growth for all Africans. This is one fact that cannot be run away from, and all African countries must remain committed to this truth. Such commitment to intra African trade is what is needed by all countries in the continent to generate internally induced economic growth. It is this growth that is needed to improve upon the welfare of people on the continent and to make life better than it is today for all Africans. However, to be able to generate internally generated growth and make life better for people on the continent, African businessmen and women ought to keep to the use of applicable standards. It is the use of such relevant applicable standards that will help business entities on the continent to take advantage of the continental free trade.
STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS
Applicable standards are meant to ensure uniformity of standards and specification so that the characteristics of imported products to any African country will be the same irrespective of where it is imported from. This will make all forms of products fit- for- purpose and ensure fairness in trade as well as promotion of large volumes of trade on the continent. A standard serves as a guide for businesses to do what is right and avoid unacceptable practices.
Such guiding principles and practices as approved by national standards bodies kept in form of a document, in form of rules, guidelines or characteristics for products and their related processes or production methods. Compliance with relevant standards implies that for whatever is produced for a market, be it local or international, the applicable standards will have to be obtained and applied to the products or processes concerned. What this means is that any business entity that wants to produce soap, textiles, footwear and food items ought to look for the relevant standards and apply them in their production process. Companies that have been able to do this supply goods not only to local markets, but also foreign or international markets. The time has, therefore, come for business entities in the country not to go about production in the same old ways of doing things but explore new areas in the application of standards to make them more competitive in the local and international markets.
FIGHTING FOR TRADE SECRETARIAT
The President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has done everything he can to ensure that the Continental Free Trade Secretariat is set up in the country. This will come with several benefits to the nation, but more benefits can be derived, if business entities in Ghana here explore greater opportunities in terms of applying relevant standards so as to make themselves highly competitive in local and international markets on any part of the continent in order to bring in the needed revenue for economic growth. Even though the African trade bloc is important to the continent, we can only make adequate use of it if we focus on applicable standards in whatever is produced or manufactured for neighbouring countries. Without this there will be disagreements and trade dispute among the countries on the continent.
AVOIDING TRADE DISPUTES
Trading blocs in various parts of the world that are functioning well and promoting the interest of their bloc members often encounter disputes with one another or among themselves even when standards are being adhered to. If these standards are not adhered to by members of any trading bloc, the result will be a tremendous rise in trade related issues. This explains why African countries must pay attention to applicable standards and ensure that there is uniformity of purpose as far as trade with one another is concerned. Seen in this light, it will not be automatic for Ghanaians to just export their products to any parts of the African market but to ensure that all outputs conform to relevant standards, processes and systems to ensure quality as well as safety, good health and protection of the environment for consumers of these products. This is achievable, so all Ghanaian business entities as well as others operating in the country must make themselves relevant through application of standards and systems in line with best international practices.
Conflict at work is more common than you might think. According to 2022 research by The Myers-Briggs Company, more than a third of the workforce reports dealing with conflict often, very often, or all the time in the workplace.
Addressing a dispute might feel tense or awkward, but resolving the conflict is typically well worth it in the long run. Whether you are trying to mediate conflict between colleagues or are directly involved. Last week we looked at three and this week is the remaining four steps you can take to manage workplace conflict.
4. Find common ground
The best way to handle workplace conflict is to start with what you can agree on. Find common ground between the people engaging in conflict. If you are directly involved in the conflict, slow down and focus on results instead of who’s right.
If you are the mediator for conflict resolution between coworkers, observe the discussion and help point out the common ground others may not see.
5. Collectively brainstorm solutions
When deciding how to handle workplace conflict, it can be tempting to problem-solve on your own. Sometimes, it feels easier to work independently rather than collaboratively. However, if you want to achieve a lasting resolution, you will need to motivate your team to get involved.
Brainstorm possible solutions together, and solicit input from everyone involved on the pros and cons of each option until you settle on a solution that feels comfortable to everyone. This will help all team members feel a sense of ownership that can help prevent future conflicts.
6. Create an action plan
Once you have created an open dialogue around workplace conflicts, it is time to resolve them. Just like any other work goal, this requires creating a concrete plan and following through.
Create an action plan and then act on it. It does not matter what the plan is, as long as you commit to it and resolve the conflict as a result.
7. Reflect on what you learned
All conflicts offer an opportunity to grow and become a better communicator. Identify what went well and what did not.
Work with your whole team to gather learnings from the conflict so you can avoid similar situations in the future.
Today, I continue with my narration of personalities and their accomplishments as members of the Ghanaian Diaspora in Finland, with a focus on Mr Joseph Osei Amoah.
Mr Amoah is one of the senior members of the Ghanaian community in Finland and a top member of the Ghana Union Finland, an association of the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
He is an active and a well-respected person in the Ghanaian community in Finland. Mr Osei Amoah moved to Finland in the mid-1990s, and he has lived in Helsinki all this time.
Accomplishments and honours
It is important to recount accomplishments as part of the success stories of the personalities of Ghanaian descent in Finland in order to highlight their exploits both within the Ghanaian migrant community and in the wider Finnish society.
Mr Amoah holds a Master’s degree in Demography from the University of Helsinki. At the time he came to Finland in 1994, he had majored in Economics at the Bachelor’s level at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Sometimes affectionately called “Chairman” in the Ghanaian migrant community, Mr Osei is a former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) branch in Finland, assuming office around 2015, a few months after the branch was formed, until 2019 when he did not run again for the elections. He helped to bring vibrancy into the NPP Finland branch.
Religious life
Mr Amoah is a prominent member of the Global Methodist Church in Finland. In spite of his busy working life and other responsibilities, he remains a committed member of the Global Methodist Church in Finland.
He plays a key leadership role in the church, which is attended by many Ghanaian migrants and other African migrants, Finns, and those of other nationalities.
His position in Asanteman Finland
Mr Osei Amoah is an outstanding member of the Asanteman Finland, where he is the Gyasehene, a prominent position as a sub-chief in the Asante (and Akan) royal hierarchy, in the functioning of the traditional authority systemgenerally in Ghana.
The Asanteman Finland is an association formed purposely with the aim of supporting each other as well as to ensure unity among its members and others outside of the group.
One of its top priorities of Asanteman Finland is to display the Asante culture in Finland. Mr Osei Amoah finds this as very important since by upholding the traditional culture and heritage, the association enables its members and especially the young ones to get the chance to learn and appreciate Asante and Ghanaian cultural values. They do this through rites such as marriage, the naming ceremony, and death and funeral rites, which makes the people to learn more of their provenance and not forget their origins.
“My point is that, by displaying the traditional heritage it helps people to learn more about their provenance. For, I think it will be embarrassing to go home and see that even the young ones have much knowledge about how to perform certain rites whilst those of us in the diaspora may be deficient in understanding those practices”, he argued. It is also very important for the young ones who are born in Finland to learn what the culture of their original society is, he continued.
The Finnish educational system
Mr Osei has a lot to say about the Finnish educational system, which he sees as very good. “When we came to Finland, education was free. There were library books and manuscripts readily available in the library, and one could print or make as many photocopies as possible for your studies. There was more flexibility. One could read books and write exams on them for the necessary grades in order to complete your studies”. In his opinion, Ghana could learn much from the Finnish system, which is one of the best in the world.
He said the only initial challenge he found in Finland was how to master the Finnish language, without which it was difficult to get a job befitting one’s status after the studies. But things have changed today and there are many English courses so it is easy to study and get a job that matches your studies, especially in the area of ICT, he said.
His role in the Ghanaian community
Mr Osei Amoah has been very active in the Ghanaian community, as I have indicated earlier. He is still very active in the Ghana Union Finland, and has played a leadership in many functions organised by the Union, as a non-governmental organisation for the Ghanaian migrant community in Finland.
Mr Amoah has been a counsellor and mentor who has guided many young Ghanaian migrants on their career paths and has also been part in settling various kinds of conflicts between opposing parties or persons. In conclusion, I would say Mr Osei Amoah has succeeded in embossing his name in the golden pages of visionary Ghanaians in both Sweden and Finland.
With Dr Perpetual Crentsil
